Water-powered actuator



June 3, 1952 J. T. MITCHELL WATER POWERED ACTUATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20. 1947 k 5 E- vn 8 s mm mm \m. UN w mm H Q Q 3 m \m 3 NH 5 m 1 EH G, H S R [WEI/r012 JOHN 1'. MITCHELL BY E, Q

June 3, 1952 J. T. MITCHELL WATER POWERED ACTUATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEIVIUR Jail)! 2'. menu. BY g Filed Oct. 20. 1947 June 3, 1952 J. T. MITCHELL 2,599,273

WATER POWERED ACTUATOR Filed Oct. 20, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JOHN Z IIITCHELL Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED S TATES PAT ENT OF FICE i I 7 2,599,273

WATER-POWERED ACTUATOR John T. Mitchell, Memphis, Tenn.

Application October 20, 1947, Serial No. 780,808

'3 Claims. (01. 253-2.)

"This invention relates tora water powered machine for mechanically actuating toilet implements .such as tooth brushes which are conventionally operated by hand for mechanically .performing the normal operation of the implement to thereby enable crippled -or infirm persons to accomplish their toilet without assistance and to provide a machine adapted for general use to .promote and insure proper utilization of the toilet implement.

. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention tofprovide a water powered machine .of extremely simple construction adapted especially to'be utilized for actuating a tooth brush in the accomplishment of the cleansing of the teeth .by a correct method and the use of which will discourage improper cleaning of the teeth.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the afore-described character of extremely simple construction capable of being readily operated by the water power from a conventional household faucet and which may be conveniently applied to or removed from a wash bowl of a lavatory.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve'the design efficiency and operation of meansfor utilizing water power and converting such power to the actuation of implements.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the accompanying specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along .a plane .as indicated by the lines III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig.4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the lines IV--.IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional .view taken substantially alonga plane'as indicated by the lines V -'V of Fig. 4; d

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the lines VIVI of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the lines VII-VII of Fig. 2;

Fig.8 is a top plan view of a variation of the device;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 'IXIX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of one side of the variation shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on the line Xl-XI of Fig. 10 and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary :side elevational view from the side of the device opposite Fig. '10.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral Ill designates generally the novel toilet implement actuator in its entirety and which includes a housing or casing II which may be formed of a transparent or opaque plastic or any other suitable material and which includes asubstantially cylindrical upper portion provided with a cover plate I2 and a restricted lower portion including a downwardly and inwardlyinclined wall portion 1 3. The restricted lower portion of the housing H terminates at its bottom in a restricted outlet [4.

The inclined wall portion 13 is provided with an internal boss i5 forming an upwardly opening thrust bearing for the unthreaded lower end of a threaded shaft I6 which is journalled in a bearing Ii formed in the cover l2. An impeller, designated generally [8, includes, a hub l9 which is-threaded on the shaft l6, beneath and adjacent the bearing 11 and which is adjustably fixed thereto by nuts 29 which are threaded on said shaft, above and beneath the hub IS. [The hub 19 is provided with a plurality. of blades 2| which project radially from the periphery thereof and which are provided with recessed outer end portions forming buckets 22 all of which vface in the same direction, as clearly illustrated in. Fig. 5. As seen in Fig. 5, the upper, substantially cylindrical portion of thehousing II is provided with a substantially straight portion 23, located above the inclined wall portion l3 and in which forms a nozzle 2-4 which opens into-the'upper part of the casing il in a direction generally tangentially thereof. The nozzle, is adapted to be connected to one end of a hose or other flexible conduit 25 the opposite end of which connects .in suitable manner to a source of water under pressure, such as a water faucet, not shown. The water under pressure from thesource will be conveyed through the conduit 25 to the nozzle 24 from which it will be ejected under pressure in a direction toward the inner or concave side of each or" the buckets 2.2 as the impeller i8 is revolved thereby and it will be readily apparent that the buckets 22 in moving into the path. of

the jet of water from the nozzle 24 will be 'im pelled thereby for causing said impeller .18 to revolve in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 5.for turning the shaft 16 in the same direction. I

A hook 29 is preferably secured to the upper portion of the casing II substantially opposite to the nozzle24 and is adapted to engage over the rim of a wash bowl or the like for supporting the actuator I thereon and so that the actuator may be readily demounted therefrom, when not in use. A drain hose 30 is attached to the outlet I4 for carrying off the water from the casing I I to the drain or outlet, not shown, of the wash bowl or basin on which the actuator I8 is mounted.

The cover I2, as best seen in Fig. 3, is provided with a pair of opposed upstanding ears or projections 3| which are provided with aligned apertures for journalling unthreaded portions of a pair of screws or other journal elements 32 which project inwardly therethrough and which threadedly engage in end wall portions 33 of an elongated cradle 34 which is supported thereby to oscillate on its longitudinal axis and which includes outwardly bowed longitudinal side portions 35 which straddle the upper portion of the shaft I6 and the upper edges of which provide a support for a top surface or table 35 formed in sections, the adjacent ends of which are spaced from one another and are of concave shape to provide a central opening therebetween for readily accommodating the upper portion of the shaft I6. The sections forming the table or top 36 are tapered toward their remote ends and either or both of said sections is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced strap members 31 for detachably engaging the handle end of a toilet implement which, in the embodiment of the invention as disclosed embodies a conventional tooth brush 38 which is supported thereby longitudinally of the cradle 34 and with the headed end thereof spaced outwardly therefrom and disposed with the bristles thereof projecting up- Wardly.

As best seen in Fig. 3, a disc 39 is detachably and adjustably fixed tothe upper, threaded portion ,of the shaft I between retaining nuts 40 and isdisposed obliquely to said shaft and within the cradle 34 and between the sides 35 thereof. As seen in Figures 4 and 6, the sides 35 are provided with inwardly projecting lugs M which are disposed beneath the disc 39 to be alternately engaged by the lower half thereof to cause the cradle 34 to rock or oscillate on its journals 32 when the shaft I6 is revolved for thereby oscillating the tooth brush 38 on its longitudinal axis.

A small rubber cup or brush 42, such as is employed by dentists for cleaning teeth of patients, having a shaft 43 carrying at its lower end nut 43A may be detachably mounted by threadedly engaging the upper end of the shaft I6 and above the crade 34 to be utilized in addition to the tooth brush 38 for polishing the teeth after they have been cleaned by the bristles of the brush 38.

The hose 25, adjacent the nozzle 24 is provided with a branch conduit 44 which connects to one end of a small flexible tube or hose 45 the opposite end of which opens adjacent the under side of the head of the tooth brush 38 and is detachably applied thereto by extending through an apertured ear or lug 4B which projects from the under side of the shank of the brush 38. The hose 45 extends through a clamp 41 carried by the casing II and including a wing nut which may be manually tightened for compressing the tube 45 between the jaws or legs of the clamp 41 for shutting off the passage of water therethrough.

tooth paste or powder and after the washing operation has been accomplished the clamp 41 is opened to allow water to flow through the tube 45 to be discharged into the mouth for rinsing out the mouth during the concluding strokes of the tooth brush.

It will be readily apparent that the rocking or oscillating motion of the cradle 34 will be imparted to the tooth brush 38 to cause the latter to oscillate or rock on its longitudinal axis thereby imparting thereto a motion corresponding to the recommended motion for manually actuating a tooth brush to correctly cleanse the teeth. By this motion, the head of the tooth brush 38, when positioned in the mouth, will be moved back and forth in a direction longitudinally of the teeth and transversely of the gums for fully cleaning between the teeth. It will also be readily apparent that the tooth brush may be inverted from its position of Figs. 2 and 3 and when so disposed may be efficiently utilized for cleaning the inner sides of the teeth oncne side of the mouth and the outer sides of the teeth on the opposite side of the mouth.

In the variation illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the device is shown as housed in a casing III which includes substantially identical top and bottom plates II2, II3 spaced apart and a preferably continuous side and end wall H4 attached along the edges of the plates H2, H3. The plates H2, H3 preferably are each formed with one end arcuate, the curve thereof being approximately a semi-circle, and with the opposite end tapered from the curved portion. The wall II4 spans the space between the plates and corresponds in plan to the plan of the plates to provide an arcuate substantially semi-circular end wall II4A and side wall portions II4B converging therefrom to terminate in an outlet H5. The unthreaded portion of a shaft II6 having a threaded end portion is journalled in bearings III formed in the upper and lower plates the lower plate being provided with a thrust member II3A covering the lower open end of the lower bearing I I! to form an upwardly opening thrust bearing for the lower end of the shaft IIB, the upper end of which is threaded and projects above plate H2. The impeller of the variation is designated generally as I I8 and includes a hub II9 which is keyed to shaft IIB between and abutting the inner ends of bearing I II. The hub H9 is provided with a plurality of blades I2I which project radially therefrom and which are provided with bucket like end portions I22, similar to the buckets 22 hereinbefore described, all of the buckets I22 being faced in the same rotational direction. The arcuate end wall II4A is formed with an internally projecting nozzle I23 which is 13051- tioned to direct a stream of water toward the recesses of buckets I22 in a direction generally tangential of the path of rotation of the buckets. The nozzle I23 receives its supply of water from a conduit I24, connected in suitable fashion as by hose I25 to a source of water under pressure, not shown. The water under pressure will be conveyed through the hose I25 and conduit I24 to the nozzle I23 and therethrough against the buckets I 22 to revolve the impeller H8 in the manner described for the impeller I8. A drain hose I30 may be attached to the outlet II5 for carrying on the water from the casing.

The upper plate II 2 is provided with an upstanding ear or projection I3I which is apertured for journalling the unthreaded portion of a screw or other journal element I32 which projects inwardly therethrough and threadedly engages in the end wall I33 of an elongated oscillatable member I34 which is turnably supported adjacent its opposite end in a collar I35 fixed to the upper plate I I2 spaced from ear I3I. The member I34 is provided with longitudinal slots I36, I36A, the slot I 36 intersecting the slot I3BA at right angles and the slots are respectively adapted to detachably engage the handle as of a tooth brush I31, thereby providing for operative attachment of the handle longitudinally of the member I34 in positions of choice, with the headed end outward from the actuator, the bristles projecting therefrom.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 12, a disc I39 is detachably secured to the upper threaded end of shaft II6 which projects above upper plate IIZ, by retaining nuts I40. The disc I39 is disposed obliquely to the shaft I I6 and is provided with a peripheral groove I39A which is engaged by inwardly projecting lugs I4I carried by the arms of a yoke I42. The bight of the yoke is threadedly engaged and oscillatably supported by a screw or journal member I43, the unthreaded portion of which is journalled in an upstanding ear I44 fixed to the upper plate II2. It will be seen that as the obliquely disposed disc I39 is rotated by the revolution of the shaft H6, the lugs I4I are alternately raised and lowered by the peripheral disc groove I39A, to impart a rocking or oscillating motion to the yoke I42. One arm of the yoke is preferably provided with an extension I42A to which is pivotally secured one end of a link I45, the opposite end of which is pivotally secured to an ear I43 secured to the member I34. Through this linkage the yoke is operatively coupled to the oscillatable member and the rocking motion imparted to the yoke upon rotation of the disc is imparted therethrough to the oscillatable member I34, thereby oscillating the brush I31 on its longitudinal axis.

Preferably the conduit I24 adjacent but beyond the nozzle I23 is connected to one end of a flexible hose I41, the opposite end of which opens adjacent the side wall II4B or in other convenient position relative to the casing. The hose I41 extends through a clamp I48 which is secured to the wall H4, and which is adapted to be closed and shut off the passage of water through the hose and may be opened to supply rinse water as desired during cleansing of the teeth.

It will be seen that the oscillating motion imparted to the member I34 will by it be imparted to the brush I31 to rock it along its longitudinal axis in the desired tooth brush motion. It will also be seen that the intersecting slots I35, I36 provide for an adjusted brush position for each quadrant, so as to be more efiiciently utilized in the cleaning of varying portions of the teeth and oral cavity.

It will be understood that the rinse water hose 45 or I41 may be dispensed with, in which case the branch conduit 44 is eliminated or the conduit I24 is closed by a suitable stopper member, not shown, beyond the opening of nozzle I23.

From the preceding description it will be readily apparent that other toilet implements including dry shavers, massaging implements, nail brushes or the like could be attached to the cradle 34 or to the yoke I42 and actuated thereby for accomplishing a personal hygiene or toilet operation normally accomplished by hand and where .without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A water powered actuating device comprising a housing, a water actuated rotary motor in said housing, means for supplying a jet of water to the housing for actuating said motor, a rotary shaft driven by said motor, head oscillatably mounted on said housing and means for oscillating said head which comprise a disc fixed to said shaft concentric with said motor and at an oblique angle to the axis of said shaft, said disc having a peripheral groove, a pair of lugs diametrically opposed with respect to said disc and engaging said disc groove for alternate depression upon rotation of said shaft and means connecting said lugs to said head for rocking said head responsive to said alternate depression of said lugs.

21A water powered actuating device comprising a housing, a water actuatable rotary motor in said housing, means for supplying actuating water to said motor, a rotary shaft driven by said motor, a head mounted on said housing for oscillation along its longitudinal axis, a disc concentrically fixed to said shaft exterior said housing at an oblique angle to the axis of said shaft, said disc having a peripheral groove, a yoke, a pair of lugs carried by the arms of said yoke, said yoke intermediate said arms and remote from said lugs being rockably attached to said housing, said lugs engaging said groove for alternate depression upon rotation of said disc to rock said yoke, and means coupling said yoke to said head whereby to impart the rocking imparted to said yoke to said head.

3. A water powered actuating device comprising a housing, a water actuated rotary motor contained therein, means for supplying a jet of water to the housing for actuating said motor, a rotary shaft driven by said motor, a head mounted on the exterior of said housing for rocking motion relative to said housing, a disc exterior of said housing fixed to said shaft concentrically with said motor and disposed at an oblique angle to the axis of the shaft, a yoke pivotally supported on said housing, and lugs diametrically opposed with respect to said disc and underlying the upper face of said disc carried by said yoke, said yoke being connected to said head and said lugs being engaged by said disc for alternate depression of said lugs when the shaft and disc are revolved, whereby to rock said head responsive to said shaft and disc revolution.

JOHN T. MITCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 942,222 Smith Dec. '7, 1909 1,006,770 Messlin Oct. 24, 1911 1,476,433 Vandervoort Dec. 4, 1923 1,563,707 Hohl Dec. 1, 1925 2,233,349 Lightfoot et al Feb. 25, 1941 

